FA Barclays Premiership Report (2nd - 3rd April)

ANOTHER weekend of rollercoaster action in the Premiership, which saw the battle at the bottom tighten up even more and the championship head firmly into Manchester United’s control.

RANT: Wayne Rooney's moment of madness infront of the cameras

     Manchester United put in a championship winning performance in the second half at Upton Park.  They turned around a 2-0 half-time deficit at West Ham, to win 4-2.  However, their comeback didn’t dominate the headlines.  Instead, it was the disgraceful behaviour of Wayne Rooney, which left him with a two-match ban and condemnation from many within the game.  Rooney scored a tremendous hat-trick, with the third coming from the penalty spot.  However, he then proceeded to swear into the Sky Sports TV camera, with a rant that can’t be broadcasted on this site in case young children are reading.  It was disgusting, uncalled for and the ban is fully justified, because it is about time that footballers were punished for their foul-mouthed actions.  If Rooney is a role model for football, the game has got some serious questioning to do.  On the funny side, at least the TV camera highlighted his basic language limitations!

     Aside from Rooney’s rant, it was a satisfying weekend for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, as he could sit back and watch his closest challengers drop points.  Chelsea’s slim mathematical hopes died at the Britannia Stadium, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by gritty Stoke City.  A brilliant early solo goal from Jonathan Walters extinguished Chelsea’s faint dreams of a title miracle, despite a classic equaliser from Didier Drogba.  The result marked Stoke’s first Premiership point against Chelsea, at the sixth attempt of asking.  On a painful day at the Emirates, two more priceless points were dropped by Arsenal.  They were lacklustre against Blackburn Rovers, who deserved their hard-fought 0-0 stalemate.  Arsenal did have chances, but they were scarce to say the least.  The flashpoint of the match was a reckless lunge on Laurent Koscieny, which led to Steven N’Zonzi being sent off.  Arsenal now languish seven points behind, with a game in hand.  It isn’t over yet, but the Fat Lady is starting to clear her throat ready for the celebrations at Old Trafford.

ROUT: Yaya Toure completes Manchester City's demolition of Sunderland

     At the bottom of the table, results tightened up so much, that only seven points cover the entire bottom half.  Sunderland’s freefall continued, as they slipped to a horrifying 5-0 loss at a rampant Manchester City.  The Black Cats have now lost six of their last seven matches.  City were emphatic, and easily put in their best performance of the Premiership season on Sunday, tightening their grip on a Champions League qualification berth for next season.  Adam Johnson returned to the team for the first time since January and an excellent finish gave Simon Mignolet no chance in the 9^th minute.  From then on, the result was in little doubt.  Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure added their names to the scoresheet, despite Mignolet’s best efforts.  The young Belgian had a good game actually and couldn’t stop any of the goals.  Perhaps Sunderland’s iffy defending needs to be looked at extensively in training this week.  One win in 11 matches has also left Blackpool perilously close to the drop zone.  Ian Holloway’s side have now been installed as bookies favourites to be relegated after a 3-0 loss at Fulham.  Two goals from Bobby Zamora and a tap-in by the Nigerian Dickson Etuhu moved Fulham into the top half of the table and almost Premiership safety.  Blackpool looked a beaten team at Craven Cottage from the outset, which must concern Holloway, as the belief seems to have been sucked out of his team.     

RESPECT: All smiles before kick-off, but Hodgson got the better of Dalglish

     Revenge is the best dish served for Roy Hodgson, as he put one over his former employers Liverpool at the Hawthorns.  West Brom’s 2-1 win gives them some breathing space and moves the Baggies closer to mid-table than the bottom three.  There were plenty of chances in this match, before Martin Skrtel headed Liverpool infront.  Two Chris Brunt penalties, one in the 87^th minute took WBA away from safety and all but buried Liverpool’s chances of playing in European competition next season.  There were thrills and spills aplenty in a four goal cracker on Merseyside between Everton and Aston Villa.  The 2-2 draw keeps Villa in the thick of the relegation scrap.  Leon Osman gave Everton a half-time lead, but Darren Bent scored twice to have the visitors infront.  This came either side of a Jermaine Beckford shot, which hit the crossbar, crossed the line and wasn’t given.  Where the goal-line technology?  Oh wait, FIFA decided to ban snoods instead!  Seven minutes from time and a questionable foul on Phil Jagielka gave Leighton Baines the chance to make it 2-2 from the penalty spot.

     Birmingham climbed out of the relegation zone, as they made up for their FA Cup quarter-final exit last month against Bolton.  Kevin Phillips made a rare start and scored the opener in the 2-1 win; Birmingham’s first triumph since their Carling Cup success at the end of February.  Craig Gardner doubled the lead and Alex McLeish had Ben Foster to thank for keeping his side infront.  Foster was in great form again, producing a series of fantastic saves, which limited Bolton to a sole consolation, courtesy of Johan Elmander.  At St. James Park, Newcastle all but secured Premiership football next season, as they tore apart Wolves, winning 4-1.  Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Jonas Gutierrez were on target for the Magpies.  Finally, a lacklustre game at the DW Stadium saw Wigan and Tottenham play out a 0-0 draw.  It is a vital point for Wigan in their fight against the drop, but more points dropped by Tottenham, who are starting to feel the pace of a long season in Europe and the Premiership.  It will take a mighty effort for Harry Redknapp’s men to be in the Champions League again next season.

     With no more international interruptions, the Premiership is now running till the end on a week-to-week basis.  Whilst it is too close to call to predict who will stay up and who won’t, don’t be surprised to see the bookies begin to pay out on another title success for Manchester United.

Paul-Henri Cahier - A Photograpic F1 Passion

This post was created on January 27th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

Paul-Henri Cahier is a famous Formula 1 photographer and has been in a Grand Prix business for over forty years. His established, colourful and stunning images have graced the sport, winning over a number of fans for how close he can really get to the glamorous cars.

Cahier was born in Paris on November 7th 1952 and was the son of Bernard Cahier, who himself was a well-known and respected photographer in the black-and-white era. It was clear from an early age that Paul-Henri wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. This was probably helped by the contacts and friends that Bernard had established in the form of Grand Prix world champions such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling Moss and Graham Hill.

When he was 13, Bernard gave Paul-Henri one of his cameras, so he could start his apprenticeship as a Formula 1 photographer. His advice to his son was “Just Do It!”

By 1967, Paul-Henri Cahier’s photos were being published in numerous magazines across the globe, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that he decided to go professional as a photographer. At this time, he settled down into a relationship with Japanese wife, Tami. They have been together for over 25 years. Throughout his era, Cahier has captured some of the most dramatic shots in Formula 1 racing and has contributed to a variety of magazines – including in the UK – Top Gear, Autosport and F1 Racing. He has photographed on black-and-white and colour cameras with shots which really have captured the imagination of one of sport’s greatest pinnacles.

Between 1991 and 2008, Paul-Henri Cahier has published 8 books, with a variety of stunning photography, alongside some quality Journalistic writing. His latest book, about Formula 1: The Pits won ‘Best Book of the Year.’ He also won ‘Best Picture of the Year’ in 2008. His numerous exhibitions have also won fame and prestige around the highly respected Grand Prix paddock. Cahier has hosted 10 exhibtions on certain F1 photography between 1984-2009, with a variety of venues, from Tokyo and Monte Carlo, to Paris and Singapore. Cahier was a very close friend of the late Brazilian, Ayrton Senna. Senna, three-times a world champion allowed Cahier to get very close to his activities, both on and off track. When Senna was prematurely killed while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Cahier was devastated to lose a close friend, but determined to put on an art of work that would make the Senna family proud. He did this with the ‘Ayrton Senna’ gallery in Tokyo – opened at the beginning of 1995. It won many plaudits from spectactors and other photographers within the Grand Prix industry.

Cahier was the chief photographer for the traditional Autocourse motorsport annual at the end of each motorsport season between 1992-2002. Cahier has also worked closely with his father on the now defunct World Sportscar Championship, and is regular visitor to one of the jewels of the crown in motorsport, the Le Mans 24 Hours. One former who wasn’t so graceful was Kimi Raikkonen. Cahier was pushed to the ground by Raikkonen moments before the start of the 2008 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, whilst the Frenchman was trying to get a close-up shot of the quiet Flying Finn.

Paul-Henri Cahier has been a stunning leader in Grand Prix photography and is still going strong – fourty-three years after making his initial breakthrough. Expect more amazing top-quality photos from Cahier throughout the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.